Mycosis fungoides in European Russia: No Antibodies to Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type I Structural Proteins, but Virus-Like Sequences in Blood and Saliva

Vol. 48, No. 6, 2005

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 230 KB)

Original Paper

Mycosis fungoides in European Russia: No Antibodies to Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type I Structural Proteins, but Virus-Like Sequences in Blood and Saliva
Vladimir A. Morozov^{a, b}, Alexander V. Syrtsev^b, Heinz Ellerbrok^a, Elena V. Nikolaeva^c, Andrei S. Bavykin^b, Georg Pauli^a

^aRetrovirology, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany;
^bN.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center RAMS, and
^cM.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Region Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia

Address of Corresponding Author

Intervirology 2005;48:362-371 (DOI: 10.1159/000086063)

Key Words

Mycosis fungoides
European Russia
Human T cell leukemia virus
tax sequences
Antibodies

Abstract

Objective: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) involvement in MF progression is a matter of debate. The goal of the investigation was to search for HTLV-1 markers in a group of MF patients from a nonendemic area to HTLV-1. Materials and Methods: Fifty MF patients and 60 healthy donors from Moscow and the Moscow region were examined for HTLV-1 markers by Western blot, PCR, nested PCR, PCR/Southern hybridization, TaqMan real-time PCR and sequencing. Results: Plasma samples from MF patients were repeatedly negative for antibodies to HTLV-1 structural proteins. HTLV-1 tax-related sequences (corresponding to the second exon) were found in blood from 20 of 50 MF patients and in 3 of 5 saliva specimens. Three of 8 sequenced tax-like amplimers were identical and 5 of 8 contained 1-2 substitutions. tax transcripts and antibodies to p40^tax were detected in some 'PCR-tax'-positive MF patients. Defective HTLV-1 genomes were demonstrated in 2 of 50 MF patients. Phylogenetic analysis of the defective genome 5'-LTR sequence revealed a relationship with HTLV-1a sequences from the transcontinental subgroup of HTLV-1. Conclusions: HTLV-1 tax-like sequences were revealed in blood and for the first time in saliva from MF patients living in an HTLV-1 nonendemic region. Expression of tax-like sequences was confirmed by both reverse transcription PCR and Western blot.

Author Contacts

Dr. Vladimir Morozov, PhD
Retrovirology, Robert Koch-Institut
Nordufer 20
DE-13353 Berlin (Germany)
Tel. +49 30 45472508, Fax +49 30 45472605, E-Mail Morvlad@hotmail.com

Article Information

Received: July 29, 2004
Accepted after revision: December 7, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 54

Medline Abstract (ID 16024940)

Download Citation

Cited In

This journal is part of the second subject package of the Karger

Journal Archive Collection

Information on packages (PDF)
Free sample issues

For non-native English speakers and international authors who would like assistance with their writing before submission, we suggest American Journal Experts for their scientific editing service.